Food Trucks Can't Roll, New Law Coming, Says Miami-Dade Zoning

The trucks cannot legally roll down the street and serve up lunch at a busy corner, says Hilda Castillo, a spokesperson at the Miami-Dade County Department of Planning and Zoning. "Food trucks are not permitted to conduct sales on the public right-of-way," she says. Indeed, according to Miami-Dade.gov, a right-of-way "includes all of the public area that starts from the edge of private property. It includes, but is not limited to, road medians, sidewalks, areas where there are utility poles, and the grassy area (swale) where you park in front of a house . (Sec. 2-103.1)."

Then there are the roundups, which are also illegal without a permit, according to Castillo.​

For the past few weeks, some of these have been either canceled or moved due to compliance issues. Almost every roundup is in a different city and subject to different rules, which is why some some roundup locations are secure and some seem to be up in the air.

In unincorporated Miami Dade -- which includes Kendall and much of Southwest Dade as well as pockets throughout the county -- gatherings so far have basically been held illegally, says Castillo. There are currently no specific provisions in the zoning codes to allow for food truck roundups. The county is placing them under the provisions of the codes which address short term carnivals and circuses. Castillo did acknowledge that several regulations in that code are not directly applicable to the trucks and that zoning staff was working on a draft ordinance that would provide specific provisions for these events.

It appears that many of these mobile food courts have been held under the assumption that if truck operators have permission of property owners, all is well. According to Castillo even if a property owner grants permission to these truckers, several permits must be pulled including a building permit application for short term use, professional certification for a short term event, and a certificate of use for a short term event. In addition, a Miami-Dade Police Department permit may also be required.

The cost of doing business with Miami-Dade? Around $700 per event is the figure given to New Times by Kevin Gleizes, organizer of the Tamiami Truckers Food Court and owner of Caza Crepes. "I would pay the city $135, not $700," said Gleizes. That's all well and good, but counties don't negotiate fees.

Tamiami Truckers at Lexus of West Kendall and West Kendall Toyota, was the largest weekly event, attracting thousands of attendees before the county issued code violations and shut it down, forcing the rolling restaurants to scramble for a weekly place to squat without a permit.

Tags:

We Recommend

This is the result of government becoming too large. When state employees have to justify their job and their huge salaries they write more rules and regulations to make their position necessary. They do not have to worry about putting food on the table or paying their bills as long as they have a government job. Ron Paul has said it all. "Get rid of big government and the people will flourish and the back bone of America, small businesses, will thrive." If you want to shut down economic recovery increase the size of government. The "public servants" are not "servants" at all they are dictators coming up with new ways to control and manipulate!

Typical. Make it impossible for small businesses to conduct business. I myself have been in a bureeaucratic nightmare with Miami Beach/Miami Dade since I moved my small business. They make it very difficult and expensive for the little guy but the big chains won't blink an eye paying up and they have people that can do all the paperwork for them.Disgusting.

The food trucks are now thinking outside the box and seeking to hold food truck rallies on church property. Crying "sanctuary" Quasimodo style to stay out of the county's reach. It's a win-win situation...the church makes money, as do the trucks, and the community is happy. As usual, the county does not try to find a solution, it just creates more obstacles. If your church is seeking to hold one of these food truck rallies, feel free to contact any of the food trucks and we'll be happy to get you started.

What's this? Creative entrepreneurs want to think out of the box? Some greeedy souless mf-ers, Dade County Zoning are. They need to go -administering and enforcing the Comprehensive Development Master Plan, the Zoning Code and other development regulations in an efficient, effective and professional manner-where delicious food ain't. Just gonna force us further underground...

I cannot believe that something as trivial as where to park has become such an issue to the county. Ill bet you dinner ( @ the trucks ) that not one of them has gone over to the trucks had the amazing food and thought " Hey, This is a great idea! "

The same idiots making/enforcing these nonsensical rules are the same ones that are building a grossly profitable baseball a team a new stadium with taxpayer money. What do you expect? Brilliant civic planning? Nah. That would be asking too much of these imbicles.

This makes me sick. These are people trying to make a living and provide food to the community at affordable rates. Instead of making more laws to prevent them from working why not try to help them do business in the city.

So typical. Miami-Dade County gives away millions to corporate megaliths to promote economic growth and create jobs while it comes up with innovative ways to strangle small independent business people trying to eke out a living. Your County dollars at work. Leave it to the County's bureaucrats to figure out a way to quash Miami's nascent food truck scene.

This is hidious. Then they wonder why there is so much unemployment and crime? Why don't you help people to actually make something of themselves, legally instead of making it hard on them. The people of Miami-Dade want the food trucks. The Unemployment office? WANTS the food trucks. Who the heck thought, "I know, let's see how we can make it harder on these people wanting to better themselves." Not to mention all the citizens of Miami-Dade who actually enjoy going to these food trucks. I'm sure there are plenty of ways you can spend our tax dollars better. REALLY?????????